CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
In the modern world, observation of elections and referendums has an important meaning in public life in order to mature democracy and ensure the protection of human rights. However, despite the fact that more attention is paid to international election observation, there are recognized the importance of observing elections at the local level.
Observation of elections at the local level contributes to hold elections openly and in accordance with national legislation and international requirements. Observation of elections at the local level contributes to hold elections openly and in accordance with national legislation and international requirements. Also, observation of the holding elections by groups of local observers has a great importance for the prevention of certain violations of the law, for not repeating in the subsequent elections some identified violations and for increasing public confidence to the holding elections based on justice.
Under the leadership of the distinguished President in Independent, permanently Neutral Turkmenistan, special attention is paid to the perfection of the work of the electoral system. In our country there are being carried out fundamental changes aimed at consistently strengthening the democratic foundations, asserting true democracy, ensuring the constitutional rights of citizens. As an impetus for growth and excellence, national elections are held on a broad alternative basis.
In Independent, permanently Neutral Turkmenistan, through the further strengthening of democratic principles of election observation, in accordance with international requirements, national observers pay much attention to achievement of celebration of democracy in public life.
The main purpose of election observation guided to supporting of protection and development of citizens' electoral rights, and the fulfillment of international election obligations at the democratic level.
In accordance with Article 6 of the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, monitoring of elections within their powers can carry out authorized proxies of candidates, national observers, foreign observers and observers from international organizations.
National observers can be citizens of Turkmenistan who have the right to vote other than heads of state and local government, judges, prosecutors, members of election commissions, candidates, proxies of candidates.
Political parties, public associations, groups of citizens and candidates have the right to appoint national observers.
National observers are appointed by political parties, public associations at meetings of local organizations, groups of citizens at their meetings, and candidates after their registration.
Work on the designation of national observers can start from the day the campaign begins.
The registration of national observers at the elections of the President of Turkmenistan are being carried out by the Central Election Commission, but at the elections of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the Halk maslahaty, the Gengeshes - by the election commissions of the velayats and the city of Ashgabat.
The powers of national observers start on the day of their registration and end on the day of the official publication of the election results.
On each election is generated information about the qualitative composition of registered national observers. On the basis of information we can see their age, level of education, variety of sectorial employment of citizens, as well as nationality and their gender characteristics.
When appointing from among citizens with the right to vote to the composition of national observers, special attention is paid to gender equality. And this shows the implementation of democratic principles for holding elections in our country and the degree of political activity of our women.
In order to ensure openness of elections to the place of early retired deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the velayat, etrap, city Halk maslahaty and Gengeshes which were held on March 31, 2019, by the relevant election commissions of the velayats and the city of Ashgabat, in the whole country from political parties, public associations, groups of citizens and candidates were registered 375 national observers, they were observe the process of elections.
About the qualitative composition of registered national observers:
Of the 357 national observers, 220 are men, 137 are women;
By age: 99 people under the age of 30, 91 at the age of 30 to 40, 88 at the age of 40 to 50, 79 at the age of 50 and older;
By education level: 175 people with higher education, 143 with secondary special education, and 39 with secondary education;
By industry employment: industry and construction - 10, transport and communications - 1, agriculture and water management - 30, science and education - 97, culture and art - 20, health - 22, social security - 2, finance and economics - 8, and 167 people work in other sectors of the country ;
By nationality: 339 people of Turkmen, 18 of Uzbek nationalities.
Among the registered national observers, 68 were appointed from the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, 25 from the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, 35 from the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan, 60 from the Trade Unions of Turkmenistan, 23 from the Union of Women of Turkmenistan, 44 from the Youth Organization of Turkmenistan named after Mahtumkuli, 29 from groups of citizens and 73 appointed from candidates.
In accordance with the national legislative documents and the laws of Turkmenistan, in order to assist in the work of national observers, is prepared a special handbook for the national observers by the Central Election Commission. Also, during the election campaign, conducting training seminars with them, explains the order of work on election observation, their powers and rights, along with foreign experience on election observation.
National observers at polling stations in the journal “Proposals of Voters and Observers” record an assessment of the preparation and conduction of elections, as well as their final opinion.
It should also be noted separately that when summarizing the results of observation of the elections, which held on the last Sunday of March, the Central Election Commission confirmed that the elections held in the country based on the final data and opinions of national election observers, political parties, public associations, in accordance with the law, on the basis of democratic principles and alternativeness.
In addition, at dozens of polling stations of the velayats and the city of Ashgabat, on the elections of early retired deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the velayat, etrap, city Halk maslahaty and Gengeshes, were installed special video cameras, and on the website of the Central Election Commission saylav.gov.tm were demonstrated the voting process. Hundreds of thousands of site visitors was used by this opportunity.
This is itself evidence that the democratic elections in our country, which demonstrate an even greater degree of openness and publicity, have the opportunity to observe not only the Turkmen people, but also the world community.
All this shows that elections in our country are held on a democratic basis, in accordance with international norms and national legislation, under the supervision of the international community, fairly, at the same time, the maturity of the system of national observers of our country, in other words, the formation of their institute, as well as adherence to the obligations of Turkmenistan at the international level to democratic principles.
Maksatmyrat GELDIEV,
Chief Specialist of the Organizational Department of Central Election Commission for holding Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan, member of the working group on work with national observers under the Central Election Commission.